'We've fallen short of our potential' – Arbeloa takes responsibility for Madrid defeat

Alvaro Arbeloa believes Real Madrid fell short of their potential, after a 4-2 defeat to Benfica meant they failed to automatically qualify for the Champions League's round of 16.

Trailing 3-2 heading into second-half stoppage time, nine-man Madrid were chasing a late leveller to see them into the top eight, but Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header to send Benfica into the play-offs.

Trubin is the fifth different goalkeeper to score a Champions League goal, after Jorg Butt (three), Sinan Bolat, Vincent Enyeama, and Ivan Provedel (one each), while his header was his first touch in the opposition half in a Champions League match.

Kylian Mbappe scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season in the Champions League, the most ever by a Madrid player in the group or league-phase of the competition, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's tally of 11 in 2015-16, but late red cards for Raul Asencio and Rodrygo thwarted their comeback attempt.

Mbappe also scored his ninth away goal in the Champions League this season, the joint-most away goals in a single campaign in the competition along with Ronaldo (in 2013-14) and Robert Lewandowski (2019-20).

However, it was still not enough to get Madrid over the line in Portugal, much to the disappointment of Arbeloa.

"We've fallen short of our potential, of meeting the demands of our opponents, the atmosphere, and what was at stake," said Arbeloa.

"We haven't been able to perform at our best for 90 minutes. We knew we had a lot of work to do; we're aware there's still much to be done.

"We have to look ahead. To win these matches, you have to do many things well for 90 minutes.

"I knew the level of the opponent and their coach. I told the players as much. I wasn't able to get the players to perform at the level I wanted.

"If the team doesn't perform at that level, the responsibility is always mine. I wasn't able to get them to approach the match the way I wanted."

After finishing ninth in the league phase, Madrid’s potential play-off opponents are either Bodo/Glimt, or another meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

Mourinho won his first-ever match against Madrid across all competitions, on his sixth attempt.

Prior to this match, Los Blancos were the side Mourinho had faced most often in his career without recording a victory.